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BOSTON STRONG -
THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION
Clay Buchholz overpowers the Astros
for fifth win , David Ortiz goes 3 for 4
April 25, 2013 ...
Clay Buchholz hurled 7 2/3 innings of two-run ball as the Red Sox cruised to a 7-2 win over the Astros, making Buchholz the first five-game winner in the Majors.
In the Astros' first visit to Fenway Park since 2003, their offense struggled to get anything going, scoring one run in two separate innings that began with a leadoff double. Aside from the two-base knocks, the Astros could hardly touch Buchholz. Of his 10
strikeouts, six were sent down looking, as the right-hander had both his two-seamer and cutter painting corners.
The Red Sox scored four runs in the first inning off Houston starter Philip Humber, who has posted an ERA above 7.00 since throwing his perfect game on April 21, 2012. David Ortiz went 3-for-4 at the plate and has now gone 11-for-20 since returning from the
15-day disabled list on Saturday. He had the RBI single in the first inning, his first home run of the season in the third inning and a single up the middle in the fifth.
Since May 27, Buchholz has made 25 starts. On three separate occasions, including this season, he's strung together a streak of at least four games in which he allowed two runs or fewer. Over 177 2/3 innings since May 27, Buchholz has posted a 2.89 ERA.
Perhaps what's been most impressive about Buchholz this season is his ability to close out innings with runners on base. His left-on-base percentage (or strand rate), which can often indicate how lucky a pitcher has been, was a measly 69.7 percent last season. Buchholz entered
Thursday night having left an astounding 94.4 percent of his runners on base this season, the third highest mark among qualified pitchers in the Majors according to fangraphs.com. He stranded five of seven baserunners Thursday.
Alfredo Aceves was sent down to Triple A Pawtucket and their expectation is that he will comply with their wishes after being demoted. The 30-year-old righthander has no other choice after being optioned Wednesday night. The alternative would be not collecting on his
$2.65 million salary. Right fielder Shane Victorino was out of the lineup with lower back spasms. He left Wednesday's game after batting in the sixth inning. John Lackey threw in the bullpen before the game and is set to come off the disabled list and start on Sunday.
Ryan Lavarnway joined the team, taking the roster spot vacated by Aceves. The plan is to keep him around as a pinch hitter until Sunday, at which point Lackey would be activated. The Sox could have used an outfielder but Jackie Bradley Jr. is not eligible to return to the team. He was
optioned to Pawtucket April 20 and a player must stay in the minors for 10 days before returning, unless he's replacing a player on the disabled list. |
